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Physical activity

Lack of physical activity is one of the main causes of overweight and obesity. Physically inactive people are more likely to have high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, depression and cancer. With the decrease in physical work, physical activity in leisure time becomes more important.

The survey included assessment of population physical activity related to work and leisure.

The survey results showed that 36 per cent of men and 42 per cent of women had sitting or standing type of work, i.e. little physical effort was required. 54 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women indicated that their work involved tasks of moderate physical effort, while 9 per cent of men and 2 per cent of women were engaged in physically demanding work.

Population by type of work, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

Men and women of working age (aged 25–64) mostly perform work of moderate physical intensity.

Population by type of work and age group, 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

Walking and cycling are the ways to increase physical activity. 48 per cent of population usually spent at least 30 minutes a day walking (by 7 per cent more than in 2014).

Proportion of population whose daily physical activity normally takes 30 minutes and longer, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

Proportion of population who usually walk for at least 30 minutes a day, by age group and sex, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

Proportion of population who usually cycle at for at least 30 minutes a day, by age group and sex, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

10 per cent of population spent, on an average, 30 minutes or more a day doing sports or actively spending their free time (in 2014, 9 per cent). Compared to 2014, the proportion of physically active men remained unchanged (13 per cent), that of women – increased by 2 percentage points (from 6 to 8 per cent). In the 45–54 and 55–64 age groups, women were more active than men, while in the other age groups, men were more active than women.

An increase in the number of physically active women is observed in all age groups, in particular – in the 25–34 age group. In 2019, in this age group, the proportion of women doing sports made up 14.5 per cent, in 2014 – 6.3 per cent.

Proportion of population who usually engage in sports, fitness or active leisure activities for at least 30 minutes a day, by age group and sex, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.

22 per cent of the population (26 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women) perform special endurance or strength exercises designed to strengthen key muscle groups in the body. Exercises to strengthen muscles are more popular among younger persons. In the 15–44 age group, 40 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women performed muscle-strengthening exercises (in 2014, 27 and 14 per cent respectively).

Proportion of population performing muscle-strengthening activities, by age group and sex, 2014 and 2019

Per cent

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators.